Are you ready to restore the appearance of your teeth and improve your mouth’s chewing performance? Splendid Dental Woodlands offers long-lasting, durable dental fillings. We can help you replace the part of your tooth that has been damaged by decay or an accident. Call us today to schedule dental fillings and sealants at Splendid Dental Woodlands. 

woman getting dental fillings and sealants woodlands txWhat Is a Dental Filling?

Dental fillings and sealants are artificial solutions that we use to fill in gaps or holes in the parts of your enamel where there is damage or day. By using dental fillings, we can restore the stability and shape of your teeth to improve their performance. You will find that chewing food is a lot easier.

Dental fillings and sealants from Splendid Dental Woodlands also help you restore the shape and look of your teeth, giving you a more vibrant smile. Filling reinforce your teeth so that they last longer. 

Do You Need Dental Fillings?

Dental fillings are most often used to repair cavities, which are spots of tooth decay caused by oral bacteria. We can remove the decayed material from your tooth and repair the hole with a filling material. This stops the decay from progressing any further, and it also keeps the tooth strong and resistant to damage such as cracks and chips.

Some signs you may have a cavity that requires filling include: 

  • A constant, dull toothache
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold beverages and foods
  • The appearance of a black or brown spot on the surface of your tooth
  • Sharp pain when biting down on a certain tooth
  • Bad breath that does not go away with brushing 

Sometimes fillings are needed to address problems other than cavities. If you chip a tooth, we may recommend a filling to repair the chip. Some patients who grind their teeth eventually wear down their enamel to the point that a dental filling is needed to prevent further damage. Biting your nails and using your teeth to open packages may also cause enamel wear and chips that we would need to fix with a filling. 

The Dental Filling Procedure

Dental fillings and sealants from Splendid Dental Woodlands take time to complete and require a careful approach. You should expect your filling to take approximately one hour to perform from start to finish. If your cavity is small, we may be able to complete your filling in substantially less time. The procedure includes:

  • Your dentist will numb the area around your tooth.
  • The decayed portion of your tooth will be removed.
  • We will then remove all debris and clean your tooth.
  • Your dentist will probe your tooth to ensure all decay is gone.
  • We will fill the hole in your tooth.

Your dentist can use tools such as X-rays and lasers to detect small, pinhole cavities before they cause any symptoms. It’s often best to fill the cavities at this stage before they begin causing any symptoms since they present a greater threat to the integrity of the tooth as they continue to grow larger.

How to Take Care of Your Dental Fillings

When you return home from the filling appointment, the anesthetic should wear off after about one to three hours. Your jaw may be a little sore from having to hold your mouth open from the dentist, but you should not notice any overt pain. You may also experience some sensitivity in the filled tooth, especially if the cavity was large, but this symptom should fade within a week or two.

You should care for a tooth with a filling just as you would a normal, healthy tooth. Make sure you brush and floss the tooth daily to prevent oral bacteria from accumulating on or around the filling. Contact our clinic for teeth cleaning appointments every six months, and schedule regular checkups so that if your filling does become worn or damaged, your dentist is able to detect it early. 

Schedule an Appointment at Splendid Dental Woodlands Today

If you are suffering from a toothache, sensitivity, or other oral problem, contact Splendid Dental Woodlands. We can analyze the extent of your dental issue and then provide the right treatment for you. To find out more about dental fillings and sealants, call 713-587-9996 and schedule a consultation.